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Wishbone51's avatar
Wishbone51
Explorer
Aug 19, 2015

Keeping fridge cold while dry camping

I have a Norcold 1200 series fridge in my trailer. Normally when connected to shore power, it operates just fine. It also works just fine on propane. Better actually, according to the remote thermometer that I installed.

Normally when camping, connected to shore power, it's nice and cool inside the trailer, and when opening the fridge, the fridge air temp goes up a degree or two.

I noticed when I loaded the fridge yesterday and the trailer interior was hot, the fridge temp went from 34* to 45* very quickly and took all night to come back down.

I've never been dry camping before (going this weekend), and it might be hot inside the trailer causing a similar situation when using the fridge. Should this be an issue?

Or since the thermometer is measuring the air temperature and not the food temperature, will it be OK?

Any suggestions to maintain the cold when trailer air temps might be high?

Sometimes I think that the thermometer I installed is just another thing to worry about :) . Just need to relax and go camping.

34 Replies

  • coolmom42 wrote:
    You need a thermometer that is immersed in water to be truly accurate in a fridge. You are correct that the air temp fluctuates much more than the food temp. At the very least, put the thermometer in the back somewhere.

    Freeze some bottles of water and stick in the fridge if you are concerned about fluctuating temps. They will act like "cold reservoirs" to help stabilize temps inside the fridge.


    Ding, ding, ding.......winner
  • You need a thermometer that is immersed in water to be truly accurate in a fridge. You are correct that the air temp fluctuates much more than the food temp. At the very least, put the thermometer in the back somewhere.

    Freeze some bottles of water and stick in the fridge if you are concerned about fluctuating temps. They will act like "cold reservoirs" to help stabilize temps inside the fridge.
  • As long as it came down you should be alright. You likely had the door open for an extended period of time. To be sure leave it on propane for a day before you leave to see if it stays at the set temperature.